A Mile Test

Running a fast mile has been high on my running/training wish list, and TwentySixPoint2's recent effort sealed the deal. I had to run one, soon. This morning, my plan aligned to that wish. A 30 minute Tempo run.

Weather: 75 degrees with 79% humidity. Hot and humid for 5:30am, but there are many mornings like this one on the way.

My plan was to run about 3/4 of a mile to the riverside, and then run a mile warmup, turn around, and and....run-a-mile-as-fast-as-I-can.

This was also a test for my Newtons. I've ran 9 miles in these shoes---three 1-mile runs and three 2-mile runs. Today, their rubber is hitting the road. After all, RNF says they are fast.....

I used the warmup mile to practice some fast running. I'd like to say I did some striders, but that sounds way too graceful. After my 3rd little 20-30 yard "sprint" I knew I was on to something. My fourth little burst confirmed it--I had found a stride that felt really good running fast.

I'd also planned to get up to pace before hitting my lap button for a running start. Sure, that may be cheating, but it is my mile.

I made the turn, jogged a few yards, and then I hit my lap button. DOH, not quite the running start, but I quickly realized the race was on, and I ran.

When I was a kid, I was a miler. I was not the fastest, but I won some races in junior high track. Here I am, 30 years later running a mile.

Track season is almost over, and I have a whole team full of milers to race against, the only bad thing is half of them are faster than me. Of course anything worthwhile is never easy, I think I will have to pose a challenge before we finish up!

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